Aboriginal CKCU 93.1FM

At the release party of the Wabano Women's Voices CD (December 2006), Michele approached the Carleton University Aboriginal Liaison Officer about the radio program that used to air on CKCU.  She wanted to resurrect the radio program.  After working with CU Liaison Office and recruiting a number of volunteers, the first meeting was called where we decided on our theme, our target and our mission. We then took our training, and produced our first show in March 2007.  Aboriginal CKCU aired on Sunday, March 11, 2007, and the rest is history. 

Michele is the Executive Producer of Aboriginal CKCU.  She manages the team, the program schedule, the website, recruits new volunteers and arranges for their training, organizes the fund raising and she's the main contact at Aboriginal CKCU.  She keeps the place organized and she asks for help when it is too much.  It always gets done.  Michele is Ojibway from Aamjiwnaang First Nation in southern Ontario. 

Shirley Gagnon attended that first meeting.  Shirley is an Omuskego Cree from Attawapiskat First Nation. She produces and hosts the Aboriginal show on the 3rd Sunday of the month.  You will hear Aboriginal music, talk, interviews, and political events concerning the Aboriginal community such the Odawa Festival of Aboriginal Culture.  The Aboriginal show is theme-based, such as Aboriginal performers who write/sing in the Cree  language; Aboriginal women; love tunes; protest songs; country/fiddle tunes; music from festivals/conferences; and traditional sounds incorporated into songs.  Shirley welcomes suggestions to promote new emerging artists in any genre. 

Tony’s first show was on March 25, 2012.  Called, The Michif Hour, the show brings listeners the latest in community events, connections and music, stories and news from Li Michif, otherwise known as the Metis.  Tony, who is from the historic Metis community of Manitou Sakgihin (Spirit Lake) is best known as a Metis leader and Aboriginal advocate who’s career spans positions in elected leadership within the Metis Nation and international Indigenous organizations, research and consultancy, public and media relations and film, radio and video production.  Now retired from active Aboriginal politics he now writes and remains active in promoting Metis and other Aboriginal interests through social media and on various boards.  

James hopped on board in February of 2008 to make his first forray into the art of broadcasting.  Originally from the hamlet of Tuktoyuktuk, N.W.T., James was born in Inuvik, N.W.T. and raised in Ottawa, ON, where he currently works and resides.  He is always on the lookout for any and all music by Northern artists, be they from Northern Labrador, Nunaviq, Nunavut, the N.W.T, the Yukon, and beyond.  Never afraid to ask a tough question, James looks to interview people from the grass/local level to the national level.  By bringing issues to the forefront through discussion, and showcasing music which is not regularly heard, James hopes to shed light on what matters most to our Aboriginal community at large.  Sports-talk, notwithstanding.  :)